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Still waiting on Jake

side profile of orioles player looking off into distance
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It will only be the eighth game of the season – far too early to panic – but Jake Arrieta will be looked upon to stop an early season skid for the Orioles. The same Jake Arrieta that gave up five earned runs in his first start of the season and looked to be the same pitcher that has frustrated the fans and the organization throughout his career. I feel like I keep repeating myself – because I am – but Arrieta’s stuff is too good for him to struggle the way he does at times.

The fourth inning of the home opener summed up Arrieta best. He gave up a double followed by a walk. He regrouped by striking out the next two batters. Then, he responded by giving up a single, triple, and a single that led to four runs in the inning.

I am sure the organization is just as perplexed as everyone else on what it will take for the light switch to come on for Arrieta. He finished with five strikeouts. This was a game where he should have been pitching into the seventh inning, but instead it was a performance that left you scratching your head…again.

The inconsistency from game to game, inning to inning, and even pitch to pitch is what has held Arrieta back from taking the step to becoming a solid major league pitcher.

Arrieta will get the ball now in the second game of the series against the Boston Red Sox and will be asked to be the team’s stopper. I think it also goes beyond that. I don’t know how long Buck Showalter’s leash will be with Arrieta. The same can be said for Chris Tillman, but he has no options so Showalter will have more patience with him. The Orioles have an inventory of arms just waiting for an opportunity if one of the starters struggle.

From the outside looking in, it appears Showalter manages Arrieta differently than the other players on the roster. It takes a lot for him to praise Arrieta. I think he knows how Arrieta ticks and tries to keep him on edge at all times, never satisfied. Showalter knows Arrieta has the talent, but eventually it is about results, especially for a guy who will be starting his 60th game on Wednesday night.

It is time for Arrieta to step up and it starts against the Red Sox. The Orioles are still trying to figure out who will be their DH and who can step up at second base while Brian Roberts is out. They also have a very tough stretch of games coming up so they can’t afford to wait until Arrieta figures it out.

He has entered his fourth year and it is time for it to finally happen.

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